By Chris Sampson
- Chelsea and Spurs go top
- Celtic crash out, City held but go through
- Liverpool too good for Rangers
Europe – Manchester City qualify for the knockout stages, while Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs are all in strong positions after the Matchday 4.
A.C. Milan 0 Chelsea 2
Chelsea gave their hopes of reaching the knockout stages a major boost with a great win over A.C. Milan in the San Siro. The Blues made a rocky start to their European campaign with a defeat and a draw, leaving themselves with an uphill task. However, back-to-back victories over Milan have put them in a great position.
The win was more comfortable than Graham Potter would have dared to hope for, with the London club’s task made easier when their former defender Fikayo Tomori received an early red card for pulling back Mason Mount in the area. The resultant penalty was converted by Jorginho and the lead was doubled by former Milan striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on 34 minutes. The Gabon international was played in by a clever lay-off from Mount.
Chelsea, and indeed England, were dealt a blow in the second-half when Reece James left the field with a knee injury. Potter remains unbeaten as Chelsea manager, winning four from his first five games. Chelsea are top of Group E with seven points. However, the group is extremely tight with Red Bull Salzburg a point behind and both Milan and Dinamo Zagreb on four points. There is still everything to play for in the final two fixtures.
Celtic 0 RB Leipzig 2
Celtic suffered another frustrating Champions League night as their hopes of reaching the knockout phase were ended by RB Leipzig.
The home side started with real purpose and, with a noisy Celtic Park behind them, pressed high and put Leipzig under pressure. However, Leipzig, who also play very much on the front foot, weathered this and showed their quality with a good spell of possession. Strong defending by Celtic limited their chances and Joe Hart made two fine saves from Christopher Nkunku and Willi Orban.
However, it was the home side who had the more clear-cut opportunities though, as has been a theme throughout this European campaign, they failed to take them. Matt O’Riley and Greg Taylor struck the woodwork in quick succession and Daizen Maeda and Kyogo Furuhashi missed chances to give Ange Postecoglou’s side the lead.
As the second-half progressed Leipzig looked the better side, though there were chances and both ends. Eventually Timo Werner, impressive throughout, broke the deadlock, heading home Andre Silva’s cross on 75 minutes. Werner turned provider on 84 minutes, rolling a pass over to substitute Emil Forsberg who took a touch and finished.
Celtic are bottom of the group, with only a solitary point from four games. There is though, the possibility of a Europa League place if they can catch Shakhtar Donetsk, who were denied by a late equaliser against Real Madrid, who are already assured of making the knockout stages. Shakhtar occupy third place in the group, four points ahead of Celtic.
FC Copenhagen 0 Manchester City 0
Copenhagen was certainly not wonderful for Pep Guardiola as his ten-man Manchester City ground out a goalless draw. City endured a frustrating evening, however, showed good character to come away with a draw against a well organised FC Copenhagen, backed by a raucous crowd.
An incident packed opening to the game set the scene for the evening. Rodri hit a fantastic 25-yard effort for City, however saw it disallowed by VAR after Riyad Mahrez was penalised for handling, an incident which highlights the controversy over the current interpretation of the laws regarding handball. Soon after City benefited when they were awarded a penalty when the ball hit home defender Nicolai Boilesen on the arm as he tried to defend a corner under pressure from Manuel Akanji.
Copenhagen goalkeeper Kamil Grabara saved Mahrez’s penalty and the delighted Parken Stadium crowd began to believe that it might just be Copenhagen’s night. Five minutes later the balance tipped further in their favour when Sergio Gomez was sent off for a professional foul on Hakon Haraldsson. City had dominated until this point, with Jacob Neestrup’s side struggling to cope with the Premier League champions’ passing and movement.
Guardiola reacted by sacrificing Mahrez and replacing him with Rúben Dias. Rodri dropped in between Dias and Aymeric Laporte to make a back three, with Akanji and Joao Cancelo as wing-backs, and three men in midfield, leaving Julian Alvarez alone upfront. Even accounting for being a man short, City lacked their recent fluency, though credit must be given to Copenhagen’s organisation and determination in defence.
Cancelo and Kevin de Bruyne both tested Grabara, while a dipping effort from Lukas Lerager and a teasing cross from their impressive left wing-back Victor Kristiansen, which nobody could quite get on the end of, were Copenhagen’s best opportunities.
The Citizens qualified for the knockout phase of the competition after Sevilla failed to beat Borussia Dortmund in Tuesday’s other Group G fixture. Despite the loss of their 100% record in the competition this season and the end of a run of six consecutive victories, Guardiola will be satisfied with the outcome.
Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and Erling Haaland were all left on the bench to keep them fresh for this weekend’s clash with Liverpool. Silva and Foden were introduced late on, however Haaland remained on the side-lines. Copenhagen, who have had a difficult start to the season, with key players missing through injury, will take heart from an improved performance from a young team, which included six players aged 20 or under.
Rangers 1 Liverpool 7
Liverpool put themselves on the brink of qualification for the knockout stages as they destroyed Rangers at Ibrox. The Champions League has proved to be a chastening experience for Giovanni van Bronkhorst’s side this season, however they got off to the perfect start, taking the lead through Scott Arfield on 17 minutes, to the delight of the home crowd.
Roberto Firmino equalised seven minutes later before the Brazilian forward added a second on 55 minutes. Darwin Nunez gave the visitors a two-goal cushion eleven minutes later before substitute Mohamed Salah hit a quick-fire hat-trick to highlight Jurgen Klopp’s team’s superiority. Salah has, at times, cut a frustrated figure this campaign and was substituted during Sunday’s defeat at Arsenal. After starting on the bench at Ibrox, the Egyptian forward clearly had a point to prove and did so in emphatic style. Harvey Elliott added a seventh after a VAR check and, after a disjointed start to the season and several false dawns, Liverpool will be hoping that this proves to be a turning point.
Rangers are still searching for their first Champions League points, and their hopes turn to trying to finish third in Group A and claim a Europa League place. This will be a tough ask; their next game sees them travel to Naples to take on group leaders Napoli. Liverpool, meanwhile, need only a draw away to Ajax to guarantee qualification for the knockout phase.
Tottenham Hotspur 3 Eintracht Frankfurt 2
Tottenham went top of Group D as a Son Heung-min brace inspired them to a win over 10-man Eintracht Frankfurt. Frankfurt took an early lead on 14 minutes when Eric Dier lost possession and Daichi Kamada scored from close range. Within six minutes however, England captain Harry Kane set up Son for the equaliser.
Kane was then fouled in the box by Kristijan Jakicthen and scored the penalty himself before Son volleyed home on 36 minutes to give the hosts a two-goal lead at the break.
Frankfurt had Tuta dismissed when he received a second yellow card for bringing Son down early in the second half and it looked as though it would be comfortable for Antonio Conte’s side. However, there was a frantic finish ahead. Faride Alidou’s header reduced the deficit with three minutes remaining, making it a nervous ending for Tottenham. Then in stoppage time Kane missed a second penalty but Spurs hung on to deservedly claim all three points.
The Champions League returns on Tuesday October 25 and Wednesday October 26.
| Follow Britwatch - Sport in General, Brits in Particular! | |
|---|---|
| Soundcloud | |
| YouTube | |
| We may receive compensation for products purchased via affiliate links on this website | |